title: Prepubertal exposure to arsenic(III) suppresses circulating insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) delaying sexual maturation in female rats.
abstract: Arsenic (As) is a prevalent environmental toxin readily accessible for human consumption and has been identified as an endocrine disruptor. However, it is not known what impact As has on female sexual maturation. Therefore, in the present study, we investigated the effects of prepubertal exposure on mammary gland development and pubertal onset in female rats. Results showed that prepubertal exposure to 10 mg/kg of arsenite (As(III)) delayed vaginal opening (VO) and prepubertal mammary gland maturation. We determined that As accumulates in the liver, disrupts hepatocyte function and suppresses serum levels of the puberty related hormone insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) in prepubertal animals. Overall, this is the first study to show that prepubertal exposure to As(III) acts peripherally to suppress circulating levels of IGF-1 resulting in delayed sexual maturation. Furthermore, this study identifies a critical window of increased susceptibility to As(III) that may have a lasting impact on female reproductive function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, The University of Texas-Pan American, 1021 West University Drive, Edinburg, TX 78539, USA. Electronic address: michaelreillyp@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Michael P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Reilly
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, The University of Texas-Pan American, 1021 West University Drive, Edinburg, TX 78539, USA. Electronic address: sacaj@livemail.uthscsa.edu.
authors.forename: James C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Saca
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, The University of Texas-Pan American, 1021 West University Drive, Edinburg, TX 78539, USA. Electronic address: ahamilton@broncs.utpa.edu.
authors.forename: Alina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hamilton
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, The University of Texas-Pan American, 1021 West University Drive, Edinburg, TX 78539, USA. Electronic address: solanofonsec@livemail.uthscsa.edu.
authors.forename: Rene F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Solano
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, The University of Texas-Pan American, 1021 West University Drive, Edinburg, TX 78539, USA. Electronic address: jrriveray@broncs.utpa.edu.
authors.forename: Jesse R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Rivera
authors.affiliation: Edinburg Regional Academic Health Center (E-RAHC), University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio Medical Research Division, 1214 West Schunior Street, Edinburg, TX 78541, USA. Electronic address: innis@uthscsa.edu.
authors.forename: Wendy
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Whitehouse-Innis
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, The University of Texas-Pan American, 1021 West University Drive, Edinburg, TX 78539, USA. Electronic address: parsonsjg@utpa.edu.
authors.forename: Jason G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Parsons
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, The University of Texas-Pan American, 1021 West University Drive, Edinburg, TX 78539, USA. Electronic address: dearthrk@utpa.edu.
authors.forename: Robert K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Dearth
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018053:Arsenites / Q000633:toxicity*; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity*; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008321:Mammary Glands, Animal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D011247:Pregnancy; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012741:Sexual Maturation / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D018053:Arsenites; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; C548904:insulin-like growth factor-1, rat; D004958:Estradiol; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D013006:Growth Hormone; C015001:arsenite
keywords: Arsenic; Arsenite; Female puberty; Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1); Mammary gland development; Pubertal delay; Reproductive toxicity